Optical waveguides – With optical coupler – Particular coupling structure
Reexamination Certificate
2001-11-02
2003-12-30
Ullah, Akm Enayet (Department: 2874)
Optical waveguides
With optical coupler
Particular coupling structure
Reexamination Certificate
active
06671435
ABSTRACT:
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to wireless communications systems in general, and more particularly to optical wireless communications systems.
Medved et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,818,619, which is incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein, teach a wireless communications system for linking different parts of an optical communications network. Each part of the network is provided with one or more optical communications network interface units and with universal converter units that are optically coupled to their respective network interface units. Each universal converter unit includes an airlink transmitter, an airlink receiver, a fiber optic receiver and a fiber optic transmitter. The fiber optic receiver receives outgoing optical signals from the network interface unit and transforms these optical signals to electronic signals. These electronic signals are sent to the airlink transmitter, where these electronic signals are transformed back to optical signals and transmitted as such into free space. The airlink receiver receives optical signals that were transmitted into free space by another universal converter unit and transforms these incoming optical signals into electronic signals. These electronic signals are sent to the fiber optic transmitter, which transforms these electronic signals back to optical signals that are sent to the network interface unit via a fiber optic cable. The network interface units and the universal converter units are operated in pairs, with each member of the pair being a portion of a different optical communications network or of a different part of the same optical communications network. The airlink transmitter of each universal converter unit is aimed at the airlink receiver of the other universal converter unit to enable exchange of optical signals between the two optical communications network or between the two parts of the same optical communications network.
The wireless communications system of Medved et al. is intended for use in an optical communications network in which signals are encoded in a single carrier wavelength. Recently, optical communications networks based on dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) have been introduced. In a DWDM network, several carrier wavelengths are multiplexed on the same optical fiber. The data transmission rate available using DWDM would overwhelm the electronics of the universal converter units of Medved et al. In any case, the various carrier wavelengths would have to be demultiplexed, and a separate network interface unit and universal converter unit would be needed for each carrier wavelength.
There is thus a widely recognized need for, and it would be highly advantageous to have, a system for linking two parts of an optical communications network that are remote from each other in a way that facilitates the exchange of DWDM optical signals.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided an optical device including: (a) a multimode optical waveguide having a proximal end and a distal end; (b) a single mode optical waveguide having a distal end; (c) a mechanism for optically coupling the distal end of the single mode optical waveguide to the proximal end of the multimode optical waveguide; and (d) imaging optics, optically coupled to the distal end of the multimode optical waveguide.
According to the present invention there is provided an optical transmitter, including: (a) a common input optical waveguide; (b) a plurality of transmitter optical waveguides, each transmitter optical waveguide having a distal end; (c) for each transmitter optical waveguide, imaging optics, optically coupled to the distal end of the each transmitter optical waveguide; and (d) a mechanism for optically coupling the common input optical waveguide to the transmitter optical waveguides.
According to the present invention there is provided an optical receiver, including: (a) a common output optical waveguide; (b) a plurality of receiver optical waveguides, each receiver optical waveguide having a distal end; (c) for each receiver optical waveguide, imaging optics, optically coupled to the distal end of the each receiver optical waveguide; and (d) a mechanism for optically coupling the common output optical waveguide to the receiver optical waveguides.
According to the present invention there is provided an optical transceiver including: (a) a transmitter optical waveguide having a distal end; (b) transmitter imaging optics, having a transmitter optical axis, optically coupled to the distal end of the transmitter optical waveguide; (c) a plurality of receiver optical waveguides, each receiver optical waveguide having a distal end; and (d) for each receiver optical waveguide, receiver imaging optics, having a receiver optical axis, optically coupled to the distal end of the each receiver optical waveguide, the transmitter optical axis and the receiver optical axes all being substantially parallel.
According to the present invention there is provided a wireless communications system, including: (a) a transmitter optical waveguide having a proximal end and a distal end; (b) transmitter imaging optics, optically coupled to the distal end of the transmitter optical waveguide; (c) at least one receiver optical waveguide having a proximal end and a distal end; (d) for each at least one receiver optical waveguide, receiver imaging optics optically coupled to the distal end of the at least one receiver optical waveguide; and (e) an optical communication network interface unit, optically coupled to the proximal ends of the transmitter optical waveguide and of the at least one receiver optical waveguide, for transmitting optical signals to the transmitter optical waveguide and for receiving optical signals from the at least one receiver optical waveguide.
According to the present invention there is provided an optical transceiver including: (a) a transmitter optical waveguide having a distal end; (b) transmitter imaging optics, having a transmitter optical axis, optically coupled to the distal end of the transmitter optical waveguide; and (c) an airlink receiver having a receiver optical axis substantially parallel to the transmitter optical axis.
According to the present invention there is provided a wireless communication system, including: (a) a transmitter optical waveguide having a proximal end and a distal end; (b) transmitter imaging optics, optically coupled to the distal end of the transmitter optical waveguide; (c) an airlink receiver; (d) a converter unit, electrically coupled to the airlink receiver; and (e) an optical communication network interface unit, optically coupled to the proximal end of the transmitter optical waveguide and to the converter unit, for transmitting optical signals to the transmitter optical waveguide and for receiving optical signals from the converter unit.
According to the present invention there is provided an optical device including: (a) an optical fiber having a distal end; and (b) a FC/APC fiber optic connector serving as a reflection-suppressing interface between the distal end and a rarefied optical medium.
According to the present invention there is provided a wireless system for transmitting wavelength-multiplexed optical signals from a first location to a second location, including: (a) an optical transmitter, at the first location, the optical transmitter including a multimode input optical waveguide for receiving the optical signals; and (b) an optical receiver, at the second location, for receiving the optical signals from the optical transmitter.
According to the present invention there is provided a method for exchanging optical signals between two parts of an optical network, including the steps of: (a) providing each part of the network with: (i) a network interface unit, and (ii) a transceiver including: (A) transmitter imaging optics, (B) at least one transmitter optical waveguide for optically coupling the network interface unit to the transmitter imaging optics, (C) re
Davidovich Leonid
Medved David
Friedman Mark M.
Jolt Ltd.
Ullah Akm Enayet
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